Three former Friars will have their numbers raised to the rafters on Feb. 14 and a dinner on Feb. 13.

He might be better known as the 1988 United States Olympic Team coach or the former Georgetown University basketball coach but John Thompson began his career in college basketball environs at Providence College. A nationally-recruited big man and tremendous inside scorer, Thompson's announcement to attend PC was a major coup for Joe Mullaney. Thompson not only established the single-season scoring mark (26.2 points per game) but also smashed the career scoring record as well. A First Team All-American who played in the East-West All-Star game, Thompson is still among the top ten in scoring average, field goal percentage and rebounding at PC. Thompson ranks among the very best players ever at Providence College.

The 25th overall pick by Boston in the 1964 NBA Draft, Thompson won two championships in three seasons with the Celtics serving at the main backup for Bill Russell.

After his professional career, Thompson returned to the BIG EAST to coach Georgetown basketball in 1972. He led the Hoyas to 592 wins, the 1984 NCAA Championship, three Final Fours and six BIG EAST Tournament titles over his 27-season career. Thompson also served as head coach of the 1988 USA Basketball Olympic Team that competed in Seoul, South Korea.